Are the vaccines effective against variants?

Yes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the COVID-19 vaccines offer protection against infection by most variants. Most important, they have prevented serious illness, hospitalization, and death, even at a time when new variants are spreading around the world.

In September 2022, updated booster vaccines became available. These new boosters contain an updated bivalent formula that both boosts immunity against the original coronavirus strain and also protects against the newer Omicron variants that account for most of the current cases. Updated boosters are intended to provide optimal protection against the virus and address waning vaccine effectiveness over time. 

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1. Can I get a booster shot of the COVID vaccine?
2. Why should children get the COVID-19 vaccine?
3. How soon after having COVID can I get vaccinated?
4. Why should I get vaccinated if I've already had COVID-19?
5. What do I do if I lose my vaccine card?
6. Can I stop wearing a mask and following public health protocols if I am vaccinated?
7. After getting vaccinated, do I still need to quarantine after possible exposures?
8. Can I still catch COVID after being vaccinated? Can I still spread COVID after being vaccinated?
9. After I’ve gotten vaccinated, how long will it take to get immunity?
10. Will I still be protected if I only get one dose? Why is important to get the second dose?
11. If I get symptoms shortly after I’ve been vaccinated, should I get tested?
12. What is community immunity or herd immunity? How many people need to get vaccinated to develop community immunity from COVID-19?
13. Are the vaccines effective against variants?